In Red Sox documentary, Mets clear lack of leadership shines through for one fan

APSay what you want about Kevin Millar (left), Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox 2004 'Idiots' team, at least they had some leadership -- a quality that has been lacking with the New York Mets.

(Editor's note: Michael Anderson covers high school and college sports for the Staten Island Advance. He, like many, is a frustrated Mets fan, and he noticed something in watching "Four Days in October," part of ESPN's '30 for 30' documentary series. Here's what he has to say...)

I’ll be the first to admit that due to a crazy schedule, I NEED my DVR. And sometimes I will watch a show a week later than when it first appeared so I apologize if I’m late with this.

However, the other day I watched the ESPN “30 on 30” documentary titled “Four Days in October,” which chronicled the Boston Red Sox comeback from an 0-3 hole against the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.

It didn’t take long after the episode started for me to see the difference between this historic Red Sox club and the New York Mets teams of the past several years -- and what the team needs to get back on the right track.

Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar said early in the episode before the pivotal Game 4 that the Yankees better win that game or else watch out. His point was if the Red Sox won Game 4, they then had Pedro Martinez for Game 5, Curt Schilling for Game 6 and anything can happen in a Game 7.

And here’s the thing about what he said: He MEANT it and he KNEW it.

He wasn’t just saying stuff for the camera. This team was confident that this could be done.

I thought David Wright would have done it by now. I give him credit that he is always available to the media and is not afraid to be critical of his team or his play. But it takes more than that.

And if you’re looking for it
from Jose Reyes or Carlos Beltran, keep looking. It’s sad to say but I think the
only true leader the team has is Johan Santana and in my opinion you need that
leadership from someone that has an on-field impact more than every fifth day. Plus, throw in the fact that he may be sidelined for most – if not
all – of 2011, and that’s not good.

As much as I don’t like the Yankees, it’s easy to see that they win because of the leaders they have like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera.

Although those three guys are clutch, it takes more than just that to be a leader.

How many times this year did Mets players get hit by a pitch and stare back at a pitcher? If that’s the end result, then of course teams will keep doing it. A leader would have done more than that.

If that meant getting suspended 3-5 games for starting a fight, then so be it. If that meant rallying in the game and showing emotion pointed right at the opposing team, then so be it. A leader needs to show other teams that his team won’t back down. A leader needs to be the person to start a rally.

This is just one example of what a leader of a baseball team needs to be and it's apparent the Mets are sorely lacking one.

APSince no one on the Mets has grabbed the leadership role, maybe promising young first baseman Ike Davis can.

Everyone knows you need talented players to win. The Mets have talented players.

Is their roster more talented than the Phillies? Probably not, but you can’t say the Mets don’t have talent.

I know he’s young and doesn’t even have a full year under his belt, but I think Ike Davis needs to be the leader of the Mets. Nobody else seems to be taking the bull by the horns and it appears Davis has a bright future with the team. He needs to understand that without a leader, this team won’t go far.